In an initiative led by Indian Springs School Body President Leah Fox, students from ISS and Altamont teamed up for three-week canned food drive competition before facing off on the soccer field.

The Defeat Hunger Challenge 2012 yielded more than 7,000 food and toiletry items for Oak Mountain Missions Ministries, a nonprofit in north Shelby County. According to ISS Dean of Students Jan Fortson,

the shelves at the food pantry were almost empty when the schools' donations arrived.

"Their shelves were bare yesterday, but today the hungry will be fed because these kids are taking care of others in their community," Fortson says. "It was a very good day."

In a hard fought competition, Altamont won the food drive and subsequent bragging rights, but students said the real winners were the food pantry and the families it serves.

"It's crazy how a simple idea turned into thousands of cans that will feed hundreds of people," Leah said.

"I'm extremely proud of us and Altamont for pulling together to make a difference, and congratulations to Altamont for winning the competition this year. Hopefully this will become a tradition for our schools."

Pranav Krishnan, the student body president at Altamont said the friendly rivalry between the two schools benefited a worthy cause.

"We are overjoyed by the difference we were able to make and are confident that this new tradition will continue to help local charities in the future," Pranav said.